Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday 2.03.16 Blobfish!

Every Wednesday I join Alyson Beecher from kidlitfrenzy and other

kidlit bloggers to share wonderful nonfiction picture books.

The intention of today's blog is to give educational professionals

new nonfiction reading material and ideas to use 

with students to promote a love of reading nonfiction materials.

Who can resist a face like this:

Pink is for Blobfish
written by Jess Keating
illustrated by David Degrand
published by Knopf Books

Ok, could be resistable, but, it makes you look, right?

And that's what we want nonfiction to do for readers.  We want it to make them think, wonder, inspire, question.  And Blobfish does all of that!

Filled with information about the pink creatures of the world, young readers will pore over the photographs in this book.  Each one is bright and vibrant.  Reminds me of Nic Bishop's photographs, the close ups capture details that make you linger on all the information you get from it.

Each pink creature has a 2 page layout.  The eye appealing photograph (ok, it might make you say "gross!!", but it's going to make you look which is the whole purpose, right?) is on the left side of the page, while the fascinating facts are on the right.  What I love about Jess Keating's writing is how she brings humor into everything.  With Scholastic's research on what kids want in books - humor - this becomes very important in nonfiction.  Reel the readers in, make them laugh!  These crazy facts will do that.  Each fact is written in a different way.  First we read an interesting fact or two about the pink creature.  Then, there is a little cartoon guy, drawn by David Degrand, that expands upon one of the facts and goes a little deeper into detail.

Finally, the right side also has a side bar with some scientific information about the little, or big, but always pink, guy.  Each sidebar gives basic scientific information - species name, size, diet, habitat, predators and threats.  Perfect for quick information.

Keating has included great information in the end pages.  There is a map showing where these crazy pink creatures are located.  There is a glossary and additional sources.  One of my favorite features is the When I Grow Up section.  It lists some I want to learn about "animals" and then it lists what type of scientist you would be.  
I'm really excited to share this book.  I've loved Jess Keating's My Life is a Zoo fiction series.    Her knowledge of animals is shown in her fun youtube series, Animals for Smart People.  Check it out below.  Now she's reaching a whole new set of readers with this book.  I'm looking forward to more nonfiction from Jess in the future!  Be sure to add Pink is for Blobfish to your collection!

Pink is for Blobfish official trailer

Animals for Smart People - introduction